Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-08-06
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. Aug. LIST. 1SS;

About the busiest man in this city
at present is the clerk of the House of
Representatives, who is engaged in
looking into and preparing the con
tested Congressional election Gases
the evidence in which must be print
ed before the converting of the Fiji
tieth Congress; it is thought there
will be only six such cases in the
body-.one each from Alabama, South
Carolina, Indiana, and Illinois, and
two from California, a much smaller
number than usual,
The Republicans in Washington
viewed with much interest, not to
say anxiety, the late meeting and ac-
tion of the Ohio Republican State
Convention; Sherman's friends feel
elated over his victory, although
many of them seriously doubt the
policy of his course in forcing an en-
dOrsement, while Blaine's followers
are in a rage and swear they will get
even next year by sending a delega-
ton from the Buckeye State favora-
bic to the aspirations of the man from
Maine. One Of these Infatuated
Blaineites was heard to declare that
Sherman's action in capturing the
convention and shaping it in his own
interest was one of the most shame
less and humiliating spectacles ever
witnessed in American politics
more like the manipulation of a
scheming ward politician than the
deliberate conduct of a so-called states
man, seeking the highest and most
honorable station on earth. For
once | am willing to hold up this
Alaine man as a true exponent Of
Democratic opinion on the subject
under consideration, so | will drop
the matter right here.
Probably there are few persons
who realize the tremendous task of
compiling and publishing the war
papers known as the Rebellion Rec
ords," the eighteenth volume of
which has just been printed and is
ready for distribution. This volume
only takes the great work up to the
year 1862 it is calculated that all of
the records will make 127 volumes
and that it will not be finished until
late in the next century, at Il time
when there will probably be not one
survivor of the civil strife it com
memorates. =
The total receipts from all sources
of internal revenue for the late fiscal
year amount to $l13,S35, 757-exceed-
ing by 81 ,982,SS8 that of the year be-
fore. There was a decrease in the
tax on distilled spirits and an in
crease in the tax on all other articles,
such as tobacco, oleomargerine and
lernlenteu liquors.
A showing almost as good is made
in regard to the imports and exports
of the United States for the same pc
Rod as follows: Exports of merchan-
disc, SIG, 7O4, 7S4; imports 1872, 259,-
951; excess of exports, 24,445, 1888;
gold exported, $9,7O1, 49,; imported,
f 1920 ,90l ; excess imports, 49,, 2O7,-
ia; silver exported, $26, 276, 5O4 i'm
ported, SIT, 26O, 1911 excess of exports,
f $9,O36, 313; tota number of immi:
grants, 1888 ,116.
The jolly drummers have been
halted in their triumphal march by
the ruling of the Interstate Commits
sion that the railroads cannot legal
/, ly give that fraternity reduced rates,
but only for a moment, as the COM
mercial traveller realizes full well
that at last the consumer Of the goods
he sells must pay his expenses, and
so he goes on his way rejoicing, seek
ing new fields of trade and denounc-
ing the Interstate Commission as "no
good, and a "hollow fraud" The
E drummer is irrepressible and nothing
short of death can stop his progress
or flow of conversation.
The President and Mrs. Cleveland
have deserted the White House and
are spending the heated term amid
the rustic and delightful shades of
Oak View; the President drives to
the White House every day or two
to transact public business but makes
;, his stay brief. Invitations to visit
many Western and Southern cities
continuetopour in uponth he President;
q he has accepted several of these and
will probably make. quite an extern
! sive tour.